And so it begins, the end of Sears

Comments

I think the last time I was in a Sears store was more than ten years ago. I had to use the bathroom and find a torque wrench. Never did find the bathroom but I did find a lovely crock pot. They made me buy it or they were gonna prosecute.

Hmmm. Bathroom and a torque wrench? Not something I would ordinarily pair together However I'm happy you found a lovely crock pot!

Man I wish it would end. It's like life as I knew it is forever fading away. It started way back in the day when NOBODY BEATS THE WIZ went under. I loved that store. I mean there has been many other stores that went under but didn't sting like the Wiz did. Then when Tweeter and Circuit City went under I felt like part of me died.
Soundex was another company when they fell apart it hurt.

Sears is a place my family has been shopping at for decades. Back to my Grand Father and father before me. I buy most of my clothes there as I really like the Outdoor Life series.
Man I hope they survive as I'm not a big of fan of Boscov's.

If these are the biggest tragedies of your lifetime, consider yourself blessed.

Never said anything about tragedies my friend. But it it's going to suck IF Sears falls to the waste side.

Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.

I can tell you are a very astute historian... It was the Japanese that were placed in internment camps, not the Chinese.

If you want to discuss this privately, I will be happy to. Might I suggest watching or reading some of Dinesh DeSouza's work prior to such discussion. It is important that you understand the truth of that history, rather than simply parrot things you do not understand.

I can tell you are a very astute historian... It was the Japanese that were placed in internment camps, not the Chinese.

If you want to discuss this privately, I will be happy to. Might I suggest watching or reading some of Dinesh DeSouza's work prior to such discussion. It is important that you understand the truth of that history, rather than simply parrot things you do not understand.

I can tell you are a very astute historian... It was the Japanese that were placed in internment camps, not the Chinese.

If you want to discuss this privately, I will be happy to. Might I suggest watching or reading some of Dinesh DeSouza's work prior to such discussion. It is important that you understand the truth of that history, rather than simply parrot things you do not understand.

Sorry John I have three of my four kids hanging on me while my wife nurses a broken wrist. Of course you are right that it was the Japanese. An error on my part, and I apologize.

I can tell you are a very astute historian... It was the Japanese that were placed in internment camps, not the Chinese.

If you want to discuss this privately, I will be happy to. Might I suggest watching or reading some of Dinesh DeSouza's work prior to such discussion. It is important that you understand the truth of that history, rather than simply parrot things you do not understand.

Sorry John I have three of my four kids hanging on me while my wife nurses a broken wrist. Of course you are right that it was the Japanese. An error on my part, and I apologize.

Are there are any other points I stated that you disagree with?

I disagree with you spouting off information without context. Take it private if you like and I will be happy to do so.

I can tell you are a very astute historian... It was the Japanese that were placed in internment camps, not the Chinese.

If you want to discuss this privately, I will be happy to. Might I suggest watching or reading some of Dinesh DeSouza's work prior to such discussion. It is important that you understand the truth of that history, rather than simply parrot things you do not understand.

Sorry John I have three of my four kids hanging on me while my wife nurses a broken wrist. Of course you are right that it was the Japanese. An error on my part, and I apologize.

Are there are any other points I stated that you disagree with?

Ok one last time and then I am out for the night. Other more important responsibilities.

Please tell me what context justified the genocide against native Americans? The kidnapping, selling, brutalizing, and often raping and sometimes killing of native Africans for cheap labor? The continued segregation and domestic terrorism of the ancestors of slaves through thousands of lychings among untold other atrocities? The laws that made women born much more than the property of their husbands?

I can tell you are a very astute historian... It was the Japanese that were placed in internment camps, not the Chinese.

If you want to discuss this privately, I will be happy to. Might I suggest watching or reading some of Dinesh DeSouza's work prior to such discussion. It is important that you understand the truth of that history, rather than simply parrot things you do not understand.

Sorry John I have three of my four kids hanging on me while my wife nurses a broken wrist. Of course you are right that it was the Japanese. An error on my part, and I apologize.

Are there are any other points I stated that you disagree with?

Ok one last time and then I am out for the night. Other more important responsibilities.

Please tell me what context justified the genocide against native Americans? The kidnapping, selling, brutalizing, and often raping and sometimes killing of native Africans for cheap labor? The continued segregation and domestic terrorism of the ancestors of slaves through thousands of lychings among untold other atrocities? The laws that made women born much more than the property of their husbands?

Talk about living in the past......wow!

Political Correctness'.........defined

"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

I can tell you are a very astute historian... It was the Japanese that were placed in internment camps, not the Chinese.

If you want to discuss this privately, I will be happy to. Might I suggest watching or reading some of Dinesh DeSouza's work prior to such discussion. It is important that you understand the truth of that history, rather than simply parrot things you do not understand.

Sorry John I have three of my four kids hanging on me while my wife nurses a broken wrist. Of course you are right that it was the Japanese. An error on my part, and I apologize.

Are there are any other points I stated that you disagree with?

Ok one last time and then I am out for the night. Other more important responsibilities.

Please tell me what context justified the genocide against native Americans? The kidnapping, selling, brutalizing, and often raping and sometimes killing of native Africans for cheap labor? The continued segregation and domestic terrorism of the ancestors of slaves through thousands of lychings among untold other atrocities? The laws that made women born much more than the property of their husbands?

"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

Tony, I haven't tried on the panties you sent me yet, so by definition they cannot be twisted...

I am not completely against capitalism; I can't be, I own too much crap But lets just call a spade a spade: the essence of capitalism is accumulation of wealth for its own sake. In the heyday of American capitalism, big companies (I'm not talking about mom and pop shops) thought that the best way to make money was to earn people's trust and make products that last. Once they made as much as they could with that model, they had to shift because they needed to accumulate more wealth. So globalization began in earnest (it had been going on since Adam Smith's day) and planned obsolescence (which had been going on since the 1950's) ratcheted into high gear. Then of course came the internet. Companies like Sears couldn't compete, so they die sooner or later. Simple as that. And the march goes on...

I can tell you are a very astute historian... It was the Japanese that were placed in internment camps, not the Chinese.

If you want to discuss this privately, I will be happy to. Might I suggest watching or reading some of Dinesh DeSouza's work prior to such discussion. It is important that you understand the truth of that history, rather than simply parrot things you do not understand.

Sorry John I have three of my four kids hanging on me while my wife nurses a broken wrist. Of course you are right that it was the Japanese. An error on my part, and I apologize.

Are there are any other points I stated that you disagree with?

Ok one last time and then I am out for the night. Other more important responsibilities.

Please tell me what context justified the genocide against native Americans? The kidnapping, selling, brutalizing, and often raping and sometimes killing of native Africans for cheap labor? The continued segregation and domestic terrorism of the ancestors of slaves through thousands of lychings among untold other atrocities? The laws that made women born much more than the property of their husbands?

Talk about living in the past......wow!

Read some of the previous quotes, I'm sure you'll catch up.

You can’t know history without first understanding the context and having some modicum of understanding the times in which that history was made. Forensics come into play as well, as it is typically the victor that writes the history books, so you have to be able to weed out the self-aggrandizements that sometimes hide the facts.

The question is... what does any of this have to do with Sears? Perhaps Manifest Destiny comes into the equation somehow. I thought they were doomed as soon as they could not figure a way to integrate their catalog empire with an internet presence.

I don't post much here about hifi as my stuff is garbage compared to most, but this thread is an example of the reasons I keep coming to look here. Sentimental posts about Sears and rants against capitalism in the same conversation! This is unique even given the eclectic mix on the the interwebs. It's a complete entertainment. However, I always thought that their tires were overpriced.

And I am working on a plan to open a new Woolworth's, complete with lunch counter and a Pharmacy for my wife, so we can work together. The name "Woolworths" is still in use however, by one of their subsidiaries.... Foot Locker!

One thing that has not been mentioned thus far is the legacy costs that the older institutions must support - pensions.

I'm not saying in any way that is the complete root cause, but IMO a contributor.

Back in the not so far distant day, one could retire from Sears, and other department stores, grocery stores, and the like. Most companies had to service salaries of potential multiple generations of employees that do not work there anymore. The older the company, the bigger the legacy cost is to the point of implosion. Good or bad, right or wrong, as far as I know, most newer companies nowadays do not offer pensions.

Even the company I work for eliminated its pension program. Those of us who were already vested saw the plan frozen, with no increase with time of service. My plan was frozen almost 10 years ago.

Some of the surviving companies (like mine) were able to divest themselves by creating independent companies to manage the pension fund, offer 401k plans, etc.

Even municipalities are making the change. In our local police force, new recruits get no pension, only 401k or equivalent. I have a buddy who recently retired from the force, and his pension is nearly 70% of his salary!

Hard to compete (not impossible) with the internet companies of the world that do not have a legacy cost burden. Or for municipalities to not declare bankruptcy, or raise your taxes. Just my opinion.